Newcastle United's cut-price January deal for £70m star in doubt - but interesting summer development emerges

Own up, who predicted relegation for Crystal Palace at the beginning of the season? As many people who have seen pigs fly, would be the answer.

Oliver Glasner’s appointment in February inspired a stunning run that saw the Eagles finish 10th - 25 points above the bottom three. Six wins and a draw from the final seven games led many to believe Palace could be dark horses for the 2024-25 campaign.

The most famous of those victories was against Liverpool at Anfield, a result that ruined their Premier League charge and, with that, Jurgen Klopp’s fairytale ending. Convincing wins over Newcastle United and Manchester United also suggested Glasner’s men were here to stay after a period of stagnation under Roy Hodgson.

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But brutally and, perhaps for the Toon boardroom, comically, Palace have come crashing down to earth. The assets were stripped in the summer, with Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen sold for big bucks. 

Eddie Nketiah, Maxence Lacroix and Ismaila Sarr arrived but have produced little in return. Frustratingly for Newcastle, the Eagles put up a fight to keep their other golden egg.

Not governed by a release clause, Palace looked to capitalise on England’s summer heroics by demanding £70million for Marc Guehi. The centre-back was Eddie Howe’s No.1 target and his stock was high - although that hype has since softened.

Eagles chairman Steve Parish demanded “superstar money” for a player who has never played European football and, just three years ago, plied his trade in the Championship. The valuation did not align with the eye test - and Newcastle backed out.

Fast forward to the present and Palace are getting nervous. The Glasner bubble has burst, with just one win from 11 league games leaving them 18th. Murmurings about his future have already begun.

Add in Guehi’s contract situation and the Selhurst Park hierarchy must be overwhelmed with doubt. The 24-year-old  will have 18 months left to run on his current deal once the winter window opens.

A report from the Daily Mail last month claimed Newcastle may tempt Palace with a cut-price offer for Guehi in January. But should they remain in a precarious position, a deal becomes unlikely. 

Parish and Co would have no choice but to hold on until the summer when his value vastly depreciates. The dream scenario for the Magpies - economically, not vindictively - is a Palace relegation.

Stats gurus FiveThirtyEight, using their supercomputer, gave that just a 7.5 per cent chance in August - bookmakers are now offering 11/4. As long as Guehi stays reluctant on the contract front - and Palace continue to slide - the ball inches closer to Newcastle’s side of the court.